Mayor Adams: Campaign On, Even Without Funds

Mayor Adams is confident he'll run for reelection, even if he's not eligible for matching funds from the city's Campaign Finance Board. The board might deny him funds due to his indictment on bribery and fraud charges, which involve allegations of accepting illegal donations from Turkish foreign agents. Adams was indicted in late September and has pleaded not guilty. Adams’ campaign could lose millions if denied from the program. His recent fundraising haul was $146, 151, with total campaign funds around $4 million. Out of this, about $500, 000 would be eligible for matching funds. The Campaign Finance Board is set to decide before mid-December.

The mayor seems determined to continue his campaign, stating, "With or without, it’s straight ahead. " He believes the board will do its job, while he focuses on his duties as mayor. The public matching funds program is designed to help candidates run without relying heavily on wealthy donors. However, the Campaign Finance Board is considering changes to their rules, which could disqualify candidates found to violate certain rules around fund matching. These changes aim to make the program stronger and more responsive to New Yorkers. Adams’ attorney hasn’t commented on the developments yet. The mayor previously indicated he was counting on the matched funds to support his campaign.

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